Friday

An Ocala Police Department officer was one three people killed in traffic accidents late Thursday night through early Friday morning in Marion County.

Those killed were OPD Officer Daniel Wagner, 43, of Ocala; Jordan Anderson, 25, of Ocala; and Ellis Gilley-Nixon, 30, of Anthony. All three died in single-vehicle accidents.

At about 11 p.m. Thursday, Officer Wagner, who was off-duty, was riding a 2019 Harley-Davidson motorcycle west on Southwest 95th Street Road near State Road 200, according to Florida Highway Patrol. For an unknown reason, Wagner veered left, and the motorcycle went across a raised grass median, where he lost control of the bike.

The motorcycle traveled onto the eastbound lanes. He and the motorcycle slid onto the roadway and came to a stop. Wagner was taken by ambulance to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he died.

He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, troopers said.

Minutes earlier, at 10:45 p.m., troopers were on the scene of a crash in Citra in which one person died and another person was seriously injured.

Troopers said an older model Jeep Cherokee was traveling east on County Road 318 east of Northeast 24th Avenue when, for an unknown reason, the driver veered to the left. The Jeep crossed the westbound lane onto the north shoulder and slammed into a tree.

The roadway at the crash site was dark and curved to right.

Gilley-Nixon, the driver, was killed in the accident, according to FHP. He was not wearing a seat belt. His passenger, Allie Christine Smith, 27, of Orange Springs, was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in serious condition.

Troopers said the passenger also was not wearing a seat belt.

Shortly after 2 a.m., while troopers were still at the scenes of those two fatal crashes, they got a call about a third fatality, in Marion Oaks.

An older model Honda Civic was traveling south on Marion Oaks Pass when the driver, Anderson, veered to the right, counter-steered to the left and went onto the east shoulder of the road while spinning clockwise.

The driver's side of the car struck a large tree, uprooting the tree. The car continued, while spinning in the other direction, and the other side of the car hit a second tree.

Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

Based on the preliminary investigation, troopers believe speed may have been a factor in the crash.

OPD officials said Wagner was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and had been hired as a patrol officer by the OPD in May of 2015.

Two years later, Wagner was awarded a commendation for his outstanding performance during an armed robbery. "He exhibited professionalism and teamwork during the incident which resulted in the suspect being located and arrested still in possession of the firearm," according to a statement from OPD.

Wagner was also given several commendations from people in the community, who commented on his professional and kind demeanor.

In March of 2019, Wagner was assigned as a Field Training Officer. Being a FTO gave Wagner the opportunity to be a trainer, role model and coach to newly hired police officers going through the training process.

Authorities said Wagner was a husband and father, and is survived by his wife, Maria; stepdaughter Ella 14; and his two sons, Daniel Jr., 20, and Brady, 17.

"The Ocala Police Department is at a loss for words in the devastation and is heartbroken over this event and requests prayers for the family and those that were close to Officer Wagner," Chief Greg Graham said Friday.

"We are saddened by this loss, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family," said Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn, who oversees the Police Department.